Maldives

Located on southwest of India and Sri Lanka in the Indian ocean the Maldives or the republic of Maldives is a cluster of islands spread across 90,000 square kilometers. Malé or kings’ island is the capital of The Maldives. Famous for its gorgeous beaches of white sand, unparalleled luxury, water bungalow, exotic islands and amazing aquatic life, the Maldives has earned its reputation as a famous honeymoon and holiday destination. Offering world class resorts with all types of luxuries, spa treatments, aromatherapy, private pools and much more, Maldives is loved by those who wish to indulge themselves. There are also opportunities for diving and experiencing the tranquility of nature.

Made of Coral boulders of the genus Porites, the Malé’ Friday mosque is the oldest in the Maldives. The coral stones are intricately decorated with the script from the Quran chiseled into them. The interiors have fine lacquer work with ornate woodcarvings. It was recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO in the year 2008 for its unique construction and sea culture architecture. Located at Medhuziyaarai Magu in the capital Malé, the mosque represents the tomb of Al-Hafiz Abul Yoosuf Al-Barbari of Morocco, who was the pioneer in converting Maldives into Islam in the year 1153 AD.

Hulhumalé

Location: North Malé Atoll

How to reach: Boat

Located in the south of North Malé Atoll, this artificial island was made to establish a new land mass to promote housing, industrial and commercial demands of Malé. For visitors Hulhumalé offers activities like sea diving, snorkeling, surfing and water sports, restaurants and a great time at the beach. This is a well planned island perfect for relaxation and pleasure.

National museum (Maldives)

Location: Sultan Park, Malé, Maldives

Timings: 9am–5pm, Sunday–Thursday (closed Friday and Saturday)

Opened in 1952 and located at the sultan park, the National museum is a major attraction for tourists. It was the residence of the Sultan which has been turned into a museum. This museum hosts collection of objects and artifacts showing the rich history and cultural heritage of the Maldives. There are numerous ornaments and clothes worn by the royalty on display apart from manuscripts, stone items, arms, armors, anthropological items, photographs and other items that depict the Maldivian style of living in the past.

Villingili

Location: Seenu Atoll

How to reach

By Air/Boat/Ferry

Located at Seenu Atoll, 36 km from Malé this 3 km long resort island is a famous tourist destination featured in many movies. Villingli offers some of the world’s best resorts, spas and hotels like Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa. You can experience luxury at its best in beautiful surroundings, spas, adventure water sports and fine cuisine.

Gan

Location: Addu Atoll

This isolated island is situated in the south of Addu Atoll. Once a British naval base, this majestic island derived its name from the Sanskrit word ‘grama’ which means the village. Historically this place had some natives living here but they moved to other places over time. The island has resorts where visitors can indulge themselves. You can also roam about freely on the beach and explore neighboring islands and visit local communities. The diving experience at this atoll is amazing with crystal clear water and a large diversity of underwater life. There is also a wreck of the ship, ‘British Royalty’ with apt conditions that wreck divers can visit. You can also explore beautiful coral colonies.